. Not to mention, Houston has been greatly impacted by other effects of climate change, like extreme heat and flooding.To mitigate the high pollution levels, planting trees seems like a natural and long-lasting solution. Planting trees and maintaining groves is a crucial part of combating climate change and preserving public health, but determining how, where and what kind is key – and that is exactly what researcher set out to learn.
For a city like Houston, variables that needed to be taken into consideration included the need for cleaner air, flood water mitigation and cooler temperatures. Researchers compared 54 native tree species based on their ability to absorb the most carbon dioxide, pull in water, stabilize the ground during floods and help control heat. They then narrowed down the list to 17 “super trees,” or native trees that are optimal for climate change mitigation.
Houston began planting these super trees in 2019 and plans to plan a total of 4.6 million trees during the next decade. “We’re still running the program, with over 15,000 native super trees now planted along the ship channel, and it’s incredibly popular,” said Deborah January-Bevers, president of Houston Wilderness, in a press release. “It’s benefiting our city in regions that are critical for air quality, water absorption and carbon sequestration.”they used to the public so other cities can follow their example.
Planting areas will also differ per city the framework is tailored to. In Houston, for example, some trees were planted along the shipping channel, a highly industrious area that contributes to poor air quality. Other cities might prioritize shade, drought resistance, fire prevention or other parameters to best benefit their particular ecosystem.